Winter brings with it cold weather and an absolute change in your surrounding environment, thereby introducing not just ruddiness to the cheeks of many people, but also itchy dryness to the skin of the feet, hands and face. Some of you may have got even worse winter skin conditions; your skin may have flacked, cracked or even inflamed.

Just as you start a central heat indoor to tackle the chilling temperature, you initiate a process of disrobing moisture from the strands and pores of your skin. This results in dry and itchy skin besides rough hair. However, you have to withstand dry and cracked skin no more: ideas explained below could just be the answer to your winter skin problem.

The first thing you need to do is to consult your dermatologist because if you opt to try an over the counter product, you might be doing a very risky experiment. Most of the over the counter products, medicines and creams might seem the solution for the time being, but they contain elements posing potential risk to your skin and overall health in the long run. So, go see your dermatologist who can assess your condition, study your skin type, troubleshoot your present skin treatment, and offer you skin care tips and advise on products.

As a board certified dermatologist, here I offer you some tips to take care of your skin in winters:

Moisturize your skin – You may already be using a moisturizer that may just be acting fine in summer and spring. However, changes in weather conditions necessitate change in your skin care routine as well. In winter, you should use an oil-based ointment moisturizer, not water-based because the oil in the ointment will form a shielding cover on your skin. This will let the skin hold more moisture in contrast to a lotion or cream. A majority of ointments tagged as night creams are basically oil-based.

Taking shower in warm or lukewarm water – On cold days, you may enjoy a long, hot shower, but this results in more dryness as it strips moisture from your skin. I would recommend you to stick to warm or lukewarm water shower for no longer than 10 minutes.

Use sunscreen – Remember, the use of sunscreen is not limited to just summertime. Winter sun, together with snow glower, can also damage your skin. So, before you go outdoors in winter, don’t forget to put a wide spectrum sunscreen on your face and hands. Consult your dermatologist if you are unsure as to which sunscreen you should use.

Using hat, scarf, socks and gloves – Outdoors in winter can result in windburn and long contact with cold air can damage your skin. Therefore, you should use scarf, gloves, socks and a hat when dressing to go outdoors. However, you should avoid using wet gloves because they can vex your skin and bring prickling, cracking, sores, or even an outbreak of eczema.

Food – Food plays central role in maintaining your skin health, especially in winter. Make sure to eat foots that contain enough healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids. Including fish, nuts, olive oil etc. in your diet can help you fight winter skin problems. Foods rich in vitamin C can play important role in revitalizing your skin in winter. Vitamin C plays the role of a catalyst in producing collagen – a protein that upholds the skin. Vitamin C is found abundantly in fruits and green vegetables.

Drinking water – Drinking plenty of water in winter can also play an important role in keeping dryness away.

The tips given above can help your take care of your skin in winter. If you are suffering from uncontrollable skin condition, or want more help to overcome your winter skin problem, book a consultant session with me now!